Caricature of a Man Standing by Desk (recto); Sketch of Male Head in Profile (verso)

This early work by Claude Monet, dating from 1855, presents a fascinating glimpse into the artist's beginnings, well before he became the celebrated founder of Impressionism. At just 15 years old, Monet was already demonstrating a knack for observation and a keen eye, skills that would later define his revolutionary landscape paintings. Unlike the vibrant oil on canvas works like "Water Lilies" or "Arrival of the Normandy Train, Gare Saint-Lazare" that the Art Institute of Chicago is known for, this piece is a graphite drawing on cream wove paper. It shows a young Monet honing his hand through caricature and portraiture, a practice he engaged in for money during his time at Le Havre secondary school of the arts. The recto features a humorous caricature of a man by a desk, while the verso offers a more serious sketch of a male head in profile, revealing his early exploration of different styles and subjects. This drawing predates his pivotal meeting with Eugène Boudin, who would introduce him to 'en plein air' painting, and his later studies with Charles Gleyre where he met fellow artists like Pierre-Auguste Renoir.